5 young men attacked 20-year-old with knives and caused permanent disability

SINGAPORE – Armed with kitchen knives and full of adrenaline, a group of five young men overpowered, hacked and beat a 20-year-old man around midnight on December 6, 2023.

On July 15, a graphic video of the attack, taken by a woman in the group, was played in court.

The court heard that the group carried out the attack on the victim, referred to in court as V2, after V2 allegedly showed an intimate video of himself and his ex-girlfriend, referred to in court as V1, taken on his smartphone.

At the time of the attack, V1 was in a relationship with one of the defendants in the group, known as B1.

B1, who was 20 years old at the time of the attack, was angry when he found out that V2 had shown the video to a mutual friend and wanted to confront V2.

In the video of the attack on V2 shown in court, the group can be seen pursuing V2 through a residential area.

V2 was briefly caught and held down, but was able to get up and run until he was cornered by the group. He could be seen panicking and naked, as his shirt had been ripped during the chase.

At least one member of the group could be seen pointing a knife at V2 during the chase.

When cornered, V2 was heard begging for mercy while B1 confronted him, striking him on the arm and face with the flat side of a knife blade.

Moments later, B1 was seen violently hacking at V2’s left arm with the knife. Blood could be seen immediately spurting out.

V2 fell to the ground and was filmed in his blood-soaked state.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Claire Poh said V2 will suffer permanent disability of his left wrist and finger and thumb extension and will likely experience sensory deficits as a result of the attack.

On July 15, four of the defendants – including three brothers aged between 17 and 20 – pleaded guilty to their involvement in the attack.

Muhammad Putera Sufaizyan Muhammad Faizal, who was 19 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to rioting with a deadly weapon.

He had slashed V2 three times before disposing of his bread knife in the Bukit Batok Nature Reserve Park.

The public prosecutor has requested an assessment of his suitability for correctional training, and his case will be heard again on August 5.

DPP Poh had appealed against a probation report, pointing out that Putera was under electronic monitoring as part of a surveillance program at the time of the assault.

DPP Poh said he terminated his contract of service on December 6, 2023.

Putera, who was connected via video link, stared blankly and appeared indifferent as the charges were read to him.